This Sunday I'm running my first race in what feels like quite some time. It is a 10K in Central Park, and the reason I'm writing about it here is because I'm ready to take this whole "running fast" thing seriously. Fast is, of course, a relative term. Still, I've been training all winter fairly consistently and feel as fit as I've ever been. I'm looking forward to racing this week to get a sense of where I am, speed-wise.
Though I can always do more speedwork, the biggest advantage to running with different groups of people is that about half the people I run with are faster than me. This makes me run faster. Ideally, I also have running buddies that experience the same challenge running with me. And, it is nice to run alone too- those runs are my most pure "me time."
Sunday I ran alone, about 10 1/2 miles on the bridal path, and raced the sunset returning down the west side back to my apartment. I had just a few minutes of the most incredible sunlight. Unfortunately, much of it was wasted fiddling with my little redi-shade tempoary blinds and setting up my camera, but at least I still got to appreciate the light.
Anyway, point is that I am loving running so much right now. Also, I have the capacity to put a little more into my training- stretching, strength training, some attempts at speedwork etc. Tonight I ran into a friend, who I see fairly frequently on nights when we're not running with the club. Though I was finishing up my run and he was just starting, he talked me into doing a quarter mile hill repeat up Cat Hill. I love that feeling at the top, where your lungs and throat burn... not that it feels good, but I don't typically run in ways to feel that burn. And it is certainly tough to get to that point on my own, when I'm running just for fun. But I did one repeat, and yes, I do believe that each and every hill repeat will make me stronger and faster.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
A place to call my own...
What an exciting process! I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it feels to open the front door at the end of the day and see this warm, inviting, and calming space, or to open my eyes in the morning knowing that I am in my home.
Now that I am settled, it occurs to me what a challenging process this has been. This move was particularily drawn out, and it is amazing how much your environment around you (the organization of your living space) impacts your piece of mind (as evidenced by the relief I feel by finally being "at home").
A timeline...
* February 19, 2007- entered into contract, told to expect to close somewhere between May and August
* Early June, 2007- began studying for CAIA exam (evenings and weekends spent at my office preparing for major work exam)
* Late June, 2007- began collecting cardboard boxes to begin packing the items I didn't immediately need
* Early July, 2007- timeline updated, told to expect to close in September
* Mid July, 2007- ordered couch (6-12 weeks production time), ordered chairs etc
* July 19, 2007- locked mortgage rate (6 month-lock, just days before credit crisis reaked havoc on mortgage rates)
* Early August- closing date scheduled for October 1st!
* Mid August- gave wardrobe, nightstand, headboard, and other furniture to a friend who moved
* Late August- room piled high in boxes, sleeping on the only clear 6" strip of my bed left. First level of exam is in less than 3 weeks, only have time to sleep 4-6 hours, and spend less than 3 hours total waking time a day in the apartment. Can tolerate the mess for a short period.
* September 18th, 2007- complete Level I of CAIA exam
* September 21st, 2007- scheduled closing adjourned and delayed "until further notice"
* October - January, 2008- more boxes, storage fees for couch, no closing updates
* Early January, 2008- begin studying for Level II of CAIA exam
* Mid- January, 2008- mortgage lock expires, luckily am able to lock into a better rate
* Jan 21, 2008- closing scheduled for Feb 5th!
* Jan 30th, 2008- closing pushed back to Feb 12th. Movers, painters, and deliveries rescheduled. Old roomate only slightly annoyed
* Feb 7th, 2008- closing adjourned again, until further notice. Movers & painters flexible. Old roomate VERY annoyed
* February 13, 2008- closing scheduled for Feb 28th, with absolute assurance of no further changes. Movers, painters & deliveries rescheduled for the third time. Old roomate ready to wring my neck.
* Thursday, Feb 28th- closing! I'm a homeowner!!!
* Friday, Febuary 29th- movers, scheduled for 2:00 pm do not show up until 6:30 pm. On a Friday night. In Manhattan. Old super is furious with them and will not allow them to move at that hour. On the plus side, I save a ton of money on movers. The downside- now I have to move myself.
* Friday, February 29th, 11:45 pm. Finally call it quits and am alseep before my head hits the couch cushion
* Saturday, March 1st, 2008- maintenance guys in old building help me move my bed, a bench, and the TV... and I'm moved out at last!!!
* Early March, 2008- paint, unpack, clean, attempt to study, no time to sleep. Personally contributing to an increase in Starbuck's earnings through necessary caffeine
* March 20th, 2008- complete CAIA exam... I'm done!
Challenging would be an understatement... My apartment had been a disarray of half-packed cardboard boxes since June, and I had been burried in books and covered in highlighter ink since that time. There are no words to describe how amazing it feels to be truly at home, at last!
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